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SPORTS BRIEFS: Richmond Hill baseball player signs with LaGrange

Richmond Hill graduate Zach Byrd signed to play baseball with LaGrange College in a ceremony held at D1 Sports in Savannah Saturday.

Byrd was a key player for the Wildcats this year as the team won the Region 3-AAAAA title and advanced to the Sweet 16 in the state playoffs.

A corner infielder, Byrd hit .290 with a home run and 27 RBIs in his senior season.

“It’s every kids dream to be able to play baseball at the next level,” Byrd said. “I’ve had people tell me I wouldn’t make it in high school baseball or ever play in college, so it’s nice to make my dream come true. And I’m also able to help out the family financially with college being paid for. I couldn’t ask for more.

Byrd, who started his high school career at Savannah Country Day before a family move to Richmond Hill, said he visited LaGrange and fell in love with the college community.

NATIONAL

Scott tells CBS affiliate he will be Lakers’ coach

LOS ANGELES — Byron Scott has told a CBS affiliate station that he is the Los Angeles Lakers’ new coach.

Scott told KCBS-TV he has reached a deal with the Lakers, who haven’t had a coach since Mike D’Antoni resigned April 30.

Yet the Lakers insisted they haven’t yet reached a deal to hire Scott, the longtime Lakers shooting guard. He has been a head coach with New Jersey, New Orleans and Cleveland.

ESPN.com first reported Scott would take over the Lakers with a four-year, $17 million contract.

Scott spent last season as a television commentator on the Lakers’ own network. He was Kobe Bryant’s teammate during Bryant’s rookie year with the Lakers in 1996-97.

Los Angeles finished 27-55 last season, compiling the most losses in the 16-time NBA champions’ history.

There will be a retirement news conference Tuesday at Wofford College, where the Panthers are training. He is the fourth Panthers offensive lineman to retire this offseason, joining Jordan Gross, Geoff Hangartner and Jeff Byers.

The 33-year-old Wharton played in 115 games and started 111.

INTERNATIONAL

Daniel Ricciardo claims Hungarian Grand Prix win

BUDAPEST, Hungary — Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull overtook Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso near the end of the race to win a thrilling Hungarian Grand Prix on Sunday for his second Formula One victory of the season and his career.

Lewis Hamilton, who started from the pit lane after his engine caught on fire during qualifying, was third, holding off Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg, who started from pole position.